Chipper/Dump Combo Trailer

If you were to mount your chipper on a trailer, but have the option of a swiveling chipper, what piece of equipment would you need? I don't really know the name of something like that for machinery or something with substantial weight. Can anyone enlighten me as to how it would be done?
 
Do you mean the turntable assembly? I'm not good enough to build one myself, but I imagine the guts would be a steel plate or disc riding on bearings. It would need a locking pin to lock it in position.
 
Yes, turntable was the term I was looking for...duh
Bucknut said:
Do you mean the turntable assembly? I'm not good enough to build one myself, but I imagine the guts would be a steel plate or disc riding on bearings. It would need a locking pin to lock it in position.
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Exactly, just where to find one. I don't really love the idea of buying something like that 'online' though the website worthaug listed sounds right, but there is no picture.

But yeah a locking steel or cast iron turntable on bearings sounds about right.
 
MikePowers321 said:
If you were to mount your chipper on a trailer, but have the option of a swiveling chipper, what piece of equipment would you need? I don't really know the name of something like that for machinery or something with substantial weight. Can anyone enlighten me as to how it would be done?
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The first thing to do is determine the center point of the machine, which is where you'll want to pivot from. Next, bolt a pillow block in place there and connect with a rod in the bearing. Then, add 4 rollers that ride on a circular rail. The rollers could be on the trailer and round rail on the chipper or vice versa. That would be the absolute lightest way in my mind. Then just set locking points (heavy bolts, whatever) to hold it in place.
 
oceans said:
The first thing to do is determine the center point of the machine, which is where you'll want to pivot from. Next, bolt a pillow block in place there and connect with a rod in the bearing. Then, add 4 rollers that ride on a circular rail. The rollers could be on the trailer and round rail on the chipper or vice versa. That would be the absolute lightest way in my mind. Then just set locking points (heavy bolts, whatever) to hold it in place.
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I almost got it, but that still confused me Eric. What's at the end of the rod? I can't quite picture it I guess.
 
oceans said:
I can just imagine it...paisley etched Bull Dog Bone, bell bottom chain saw trousers, it must have been a great time!
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Great vision!


But...I only had one paisley shirt...in eighth grade...bell bottom or boot cut Lee jeans...no saw pro back then...and a railroad engineers cap for head protection!

That unit got put together in'79 or '80.
 
MikePowers321 said:
I almost got it, but that still confused me Eric. What's at the end of the rod? I can't quite picture it I guess.
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Think of the rod as a vertical pin (shaft), sized for the pillow block (bearing). The pin would be mounted on the trailer frame, and the block on the chipper or vice versa. This keeps everything centered as it rotates with only a 3" or 4" profile. The entire assembly would be supported by 4 casters (mounted on underside of chipper) on a circular track (mounted on the trailer frame), spaced out to provide stability yet freedom to rotate when unlocked. It's either that, or a much larger bearing type assembly would have to be built. I can picture the whole thing in my head, and can imagine building it rather easily. If it's still unclear, I can try to do a digital sketch.
 
Yeah I get it now. Thanks.

One thing I'm thinking is that if any kind of swivel is installed, it will space the chipper further towards the tongue and put extra weight on your truck. Sorry if I'm brainstorming aloud but I am just weighing all the options. A set up like yours seems ideal for what I'm trying to do. And I'd like to balance it nicely like yours. You did a great job.
 
MikePowers321 said:
Yeah I get it now. Thanks.

One thing I'm thinking is that if any kind of swivel is installed, it will space the chipper further towards the tongue and put extra weight on your truck. Sorry if I'm brainstorming aloud but I am just weighing all the options. A set up like yours seems ideal for what I'm trying to do. And I'd like to balance it nicely like yours. You did a great job.
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A chipper with the ability to swivel would certainly add considerable length to the overall unit. The way I see it, curbside feed is good. Also, if there isn't quite enough room to park the entire train, you can always disconnect the truck from the trailer and still do all your work in a single vehicle length.

Another thing to consider on my unit is to create small steps on both sides of the tongue, along with a section of expanded metal deck to facilitate getting to the chipper controls (ignition, clutch, throttle, etc...). Walking all the way around the truck can feel like too much between blasts of processing material. It's not the end of the world, I just think a solid path to cross over the tongue without risk of slipping would be nice.

Thanks for the support! You're welcome to come and try it out anytime. Might get your gears turning. ;)
 
You could just set it up like the cranes and track hoes work and use a big gear basically then mount a hydro motor to the chipper with gear that meshes with the bigger gear and the attach the hydro motor the the hydros on the chipper that way you wouldn't half to turn it by hand.... Could attach the dump bed hydros to the chipper too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
MikePowers321 said:
Eric, how is this setup working for you thus far? Any pros/cons? I still have my sights on something like this : )
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Mike, thanks for asking. The setup is working wonderfully. I really see it being the perfect first unit for a startup company. You can get away with a single vehicle (daily driver pickup truck like mine), and trailer. If your company expands, you can add a dump truck second, when you can make the financial commitment. Now you can chip or load wood into either body you choose. You can do plant and mulch deliveries with it, whatever.

After using it for a while, I've found limitations due to the 6x10 utility body, which is not really robust enough for the job (hey, it's what I had at the time). The changes I am planning on making very soon are:

- Build a wider open top body, covered with a mesh roll tarp and a ladder rack above that. This will allow a new place to stow barrels, rakes, pitchforks, etc. By making the body wider, I can shorten it by a couple feet in length. It will maintain capacity, but be better balanced when the load progresses from empty to full. The balance overall is pretty darn good, but if the rear gets packed really heavy, it currently wants to wag a bit at higher speeds. Essentially, focus more weight OVER the rear axle, a touch less BEHIND it). The shorter length will also bring the hinges closer to the dump hoist, making it raise quite higher when dumping.

- Build an expanded metal deck surface all over the tongue of the trailer, with single rung steps hung below each side for easier traversing.

- Relocate the chipper gauges and controls from the street side to curb side for convenience and improved safety.

- Long term, build a light weight hydraulic boom and winch on the curbside, stowed alongside the body to facilitate loading heavies.

- I will also grease the machine and sharpen the knives. ;)
 
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